Algorithm evolution toward AI?

How does life work. Living things are just here to carry DNA, make it evolve, and make it last as long as possible, possibly forever.

Now, imagine a software engine, like NodeJS for instance: easy to use, portable, cross-platform. This engine could execute all sorts of useful or funny programs. But instead of downloading programs from a central server like npm, users would have to transfer programs from other users, kinda like torrents.

But these "transfers" would never be accurate. An imported program would never be an accurate copy: during the transfer, the exporting engine would deliberately modify a little bit the "DNA" of the program.

Only useful or pleasant programs would survive and get a chance to be transfered to new users.